System and method for replying to related messages

ABSTRACT

A system and method is provided which utilizes a threading service to offer enhanced features for a document management system including an email system. Various enhanced email features may be provided through one or more of the following components: a delete module, a reply module, a profile module, and a search module. The delete module enables a user to delete a selected message, a set of related messages, or the whole set except for the selected message. The reply module enables a user to send a reply message to all addresses associated and involved with an entire set of related messages. The profile module enables a dynamic interest profile to contain all relevant information from an outgoing message and a set of messages related to the outgoing message. The search module enables search results to include documents which match the user&#39;s query as well as documents related to the documents which match the user&#39;s query.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the commonly owned co-pending U.S. Patent applications entitled “System and Method for Deleting Related Messages,” Attorney Docket No. 23452-516, “System and Method for Building Interest Profiles from Related Messages,” Attorney Docket No. 23452-519, and “System and Method for Searching and Retrieving Related Messages,” Attorney Docket No. 23452-520, each filed herewith and incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an email system that utilizes a threading service.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional email systems include a “Reply to All” command. As is well known, this command addresses a new email message to all the recipients of some particular email message. However, among a set of related messages, some changes may have been made to the list of recipients. For example, a person may have been added to the list or inadvertently deleted from the list. This may cause one or more of the messages to include only a subset of the list of recipients that are associated with and/or involved in an entire set of related messages. Because the conventional “Reply to All” command only utilizes the addresses of the recipients in the particular message, the new message may not be addressed to all the recipients germane to the set of related messages.

What is needed is a mechanism that enables a user to create a reply message that may be sent to all addresses associated with and involved in an set of related messages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention solving these and other problems provides a “Reply to All in Thread” command that generates a list of addresses of recipients included in a set of messages related to a selected message and uses this list of addresses to address a new message.

According to various embodiments of the invention, a reply module allows a user to reply to a selected message in a variety of ways, including “Reply to Sender Only,” “Reply to All Recipients,” or “Reply to All in Thread.” In some embodiments of the invention, the reply module may utilize a threading service. This threading service may reside locally at a user terminal or remotely on a server.

According to various embodiments of the invention, to access aspects of the invention, a user selects an email message. Once the user selects the email message, the user may perform an action or operation that provides the user with one or more reply commands. For example, the user may select a generic reply command from a menu of the email system. Other mechanisms are available as would be apparent.

After the reply module receives the list of related messages, the reply module may display one or more reply commands that may provide various reply options. These reply options may include one or more of “Reply to Sender Only,” “Reply to All Recipients,” or “Reply to All in Thread” or other reply options. The user may select one of the commands corresponding to the user's desired result. If the user wishes to reply to only the sender, the user selects “Reply to Sender Only.” If the user wishes to reply to all recipients, the user selects “Reply to All Recipients.” If the user wishes to reply to any and all recipients in the entire thread, the user selects “Reply to All in Thread.”

Once the user has selected a reply command, the reply module generates a reply message to the selected message. If the selected reply command is “Reply to All in Thread,” the reply module requests a list of messages related to the selected message from the threading service. This list of related messages includes the selected message and all messages in the same “thread,” or all messages determined by the threading service to be related to the selected message. The reply module processes the list of related messages to collect one or more unique names or addresses from the address fields included therein. The collected names or addresses are then inserted into an address field of the new reply message. In some embodiments, the user may insert additional names or addresses into the address fields of the new reply message.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only and the invention is not limited to the particulars shown therein. Various alternatives and modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent from the description contained herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an email system that utilizes a threading service according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface for an email system according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates various delete options provided by a delete module of an email system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates various reply options provided by a reply module of an email system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates various search options provided by a search module of an email system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a profile module of an email system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the invention are described below in terms of email systems that include one or more email messages. However, it will become apparent from reading the following description how various aspects of the invention may be used with other types of systems that include one or more items, such as, for example, file systems.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 according to one embodiment of the invention. System 100 includes an email system 120 on a user terminal 102 and a threading service 110 operating on or hosted by a server 108. According to various aspects of the invention, threading service 110 provides enhanced features for email system 120. These enhanced features for email system 120 may be achieved through various components operating on or in conjunction with email system 120. These components include one or more of the following: a delete module 130, a reply module 140, a profile module 150, and a search module 160.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, threading service 110 may be utilized on server 108. It should be understood that threading service 110 may be located on user terminal 102 or any machine or machines associated with user terminal 102. While illustrated as separate from email system 120, it should also be understood that threading system 110 may be an integral part of email system 120 as would be appreciated.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, threading service 110 may be operatively coupled to server 108. Threading service 110 may include a database to store any type of data or information. Threading service 110 may include, or interface to, for example, the Oracle™ relational database sold commercially by Oracle Corporation, Informix™, DB2 (Database 2) or other data storage or query formats, platforms, or resources such as OLAP (On Line Analytical Processing), SQL (Standard Language Query), a SAN (storage area network), Microsoft Access™ or any other type of database.

Server 108 may be or include, for instance, a workstation running Microsoft Windows™ NT™, Microsoft Windows™ 2000, Microsoft Windows™ XP, Unix, Linux, Xenix, IBM, AIX™, Hewlett-Packard UX™, Novell Netware™, Sun Microsystems Solaris™, OS/2™, BeOS™, Mach, Apache, OpenStep™, or other operating system or platform.

In some embodiments of the invention, threading service 110 tracks relationships between various items including messages, documents, and/or other items. Various threading services may be used such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/334,087 (Publication No. U.S. 20030163537A1), entitled “Method and Apparatus for Handling Conversation Threads and Message Groupings as a Single Entity,” filed Dec. 30, 2002, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/995,151 (Publication No. U.S. 20030101065A1), entitled “Method and Apparatus for Maintaining Conversation Threads in Electronic Mail,” filed Nov. 27, 2001, the specifications of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to any particular mechanism for determining threads among a set of documents including email messages. Other threading services may also be used as would be apparent.

User terminal 102 may be operatively coupled over a network 106 via a communications link 104. Examples of user terminal 102 may include any one or more of, for example, a desktop computer, a laptop or other portable computer, a hand-held computer device such as a Blackberry, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a web-enabled mobile phone, or a Palm Pilot, or any other computer device.

Network 106 may include any one or more networks. For example, network 106 may include the Internet, an intranet, a PAN (Personal Area Network), a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a SAN (Storage Area Network), a MAN (Metropolitan Area Network), or other network.

Communications link 104 may include any one or more communications links. For example, communications link 104 may include a copper telephone line, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connection, a Digital Data Service (DDS) connection, an Ethernet connection, an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) line, an analog modem connection, a cable modem connection, a wireless connection, or other communications link.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary user interface 200 for email system 120 according to various embodiments of the invention. User interface 200 may includes a toolbar 222 from which a user may manage one or more email messages in email system 120. Toolbar 222 may include various items related to email features including any one or more of New Message 222 a, Reply 222 b, Delete 222 c, Forward 222 d, Send/Receive 222 e, Search 222 f. Toolbar 222 may include other items corresponding to other email feature as would be apparent.

Items included in toolbar 222 allow a user to access various aspects of the invention. For example, selecting Reply 222 b invokes access to reply module 140, selecting Delete 222 c invokes access to delete module 130, and selecting Search 222 f invokes accesses to search module 160.

Further, user interface 200 may also include a list of messages 224 for presentation and display to the user. For example, list of message 224 may include new and saved email messages for the user. In some embodiments of the invention, each message of message set 224 includes a selection box 226 as illustrated Selection box 226 allows a user to select one or more messages and subsequently direct a performance of an action on that message, such as, for example reply, forward, or delete or other action. Although messages are described as being selected via selection box 226 in user interface 200, messages may be selected in various other ways, such as highlighting a message, clicking on a message, or any other mechanism for selecting messages as would be apparent.

FIG. 3 illustrates various delete options that may be incorporated into user interface 200 and provided or otherwise controlled by delete module 130 according to one or more embodiments of the invention. Delete module 130 allows a user to delete a selected message and/or related messages in a variety of ways, including “Delete Selected Message Only” 332, “Delete All in Thread” 334, or “Delete All in Thread Except Selected Message” 336. Depending on which delete option is selected, delete module 130 may access threading service 110.

To utilize delete module 130 of the invention, a user selects one or more messages from list of messages 224 presented in user interface 200. As discussed above, the user may accomplish this using selection box 226 or some other selecting mechanism. In some embodiments, the selected message may be a message that the user wishes to delete. In some embodiments, the selected message may be a message that the user wishes to keep, but the user may wish to delete any or all related messages except the selected message. In some embodiments, the user may wish to delete the selected message and all related messages.

After selecting a message, the user may select “Delete” 222 c from toolbar 222 of email system 120. Selecting “Delete” 222 c accesses or otherwise invokes delete module 130. Subsequently, delete module 130 may request a list of messages related to the selected message from threading service 110. The list of related messages includes the selected message and all messages in the same “thread,” or all messages determined by threading service 110 to be related to the selected message. The list of related messages may be stored in a temporary memory buffer (not shown) of email system 120 and accessed by delete module 130.

In some embodiments, after delete module 130 retrieves the list of related messages, delete module 130 may display various delete commands that provide the user with various delete options. These delete options may include “Delete Selected Message Only” 332, “Delete All in Thread” 334, or “Delete all in Thread Except Selected Message” 336. The user may then select one of these in accordance with the action the user wishes to take. In some embodiments of the invention, if the user wishes to delete only the selected message, the user selects “Delete Selected Message Only” 332. In some embodiments of the invention, if the user wishes to keep the selected message, but to delete all related messages, the user selects “Delete All in Thread Except the Selected Message” 336. In some embodiments of the invention, if the user wishes to delete the selected message and all related messages, the user selects “Delete All in Thread.”

After the user has selected a delete command, delete module 130 causes the appropriate messages to be deleted. If the selected delete command was “Delete All in Thread Except the Selected Message” 336, each of the messages in the list of related message is compared with the originally selected message. Those that do not match are deleted, leaving the originally selected message. In some embodiments of the invention, delete module 130 may simply mark the messages for deletion for the benefit of another service (not otherwise illustrated) that actually deletes the messages as would be apparent. In some embodiments of the invention, actual deletion may occur at contemporaneously, at a time specified by email system 120, at a time specified by the user, or at a time determined by the deletion service.

If the selected delete command was “Delete All in Thread” 334, each of the messages in the list of related messages, including the selected message is be deleted. As discussed above, delete module 130 may simply mark the messages for deletion for the benefit of another service.

If the selected delete command was “Delete Selected Message Only” 332, the originally selected message is deleted. Again, as discussed above, delete module 130 may simply mark the selected message for deletion.

FIG. 4 illustrates reply options that may be incorporated into user interface 200 and provided or otherwise controlled by reply module 140 according to one or more embodiments of the invention. Reply module 140 allows a user to reply to a selected message in a variety of ways, including “Reply to Sender Only” 442, “Reply to All Recipients” 444, or “Reply to All in Thread” 446. Depending on which delete option is selected, reply module 140 may access threading service 110.

To utilize reply module 140 of the invention, a user selects one or more messages from list of messages 224 presented in user interface 200. As discussed above, the user may accomplish this using selection box 226 or some other selecting mechanism. In some embodiments of the invention, the use may wish to reply to only the sender of the selected message. In some embodiments of the invention, the user may wish to reply to all the recipients of the selected message. In some embodiments of the invention, the user may wish to reply to all the recipients who received the selected message or any message related to the selected message.

After selecting a message, the user may select “Reply” 222 b from toolbar 222 of email system 120. Selecting “Reply” 222 b accesses or otherwise invokes reply module 140. Subsequently, reply module 140 may display various reply commands that provide the user with various reply options. These reply options may include “Reply to Sender Only” 442, “Reply to All Recipients” 444, or “Reply to All in Thread” 446. The user may then select one of these in accordance with the action the user wishes to take. In some embodiments of the invention, if the user wishes to send a reply only to the sender of the selected message, the user selects “Reply to Sender Only” 442. In some embodiments of the invention, if the user wishes to send a reply to all recipients of the selected message, the user selects “Reply to All Recipients” 444. In some embodiments of the invention, if the user wishes to send a reply to all the recipients of the selected message or any message related to the selected message, the user selects “Reply to All in Thread” 446.

After the user has selected a reply command, reply module 140 causes the appropriate reply message to be generated. If the selected reply command was “Reply to Sender Only” 442, reply module 140 simply inserts an address of the sender of the selected message into a reply message. In some embodiments of the invention, reply module 140 retrieves an email address from the “From” field of the selected message and inserts it into the “To” field of the reply message as would be apparent.

If the selected reply command was “Reply to All Recipients” 444, reply module 140 inserts an address of the sender and all recipients of the selected message into a reply message. In some embodiments of the invention, reply module 140 retrieves email addresses from the “From,” “To,” “CC,” and/or “BCC” fields of the selected message and inserts them into a corresponding field in the reply message as would be apparent.

If the selected reply command was “Reply to All in Thread” 446, reply module 140 inserts an address of the sender, all recipients of the selected message, and all recipients of messages related to the selected message into a reply message. In some embodiments of the invention, reply module retrieves email addresses from a list of messages related to the selected message. In some embodiments of the invention, this may be accomplished using header information associated with each of the messages in the list of related messages to collect unique names or addresses from the address fields therein. These names or addresses may then be inserted into corresponding fields in the reply message.

In some embodiments of the invention, in order to “Reply to All in Thread,” reply module 140 may request a list of messages related to the selected message from threading service 110. The list of related messages includes the selected message and all messages in the same “thread,” or those messages determined by threading service 110 to be related to the selected message. The list of related messages may be stored in a temporary memory buffer (not otherwise illustrated) of email system 120. Reply module 140 may access the temporary memory buffer and retrieve the list of related messages.

In some embodiments of the invention, reply module 140 may gather header information for each message in the list of related messages. The header information gathered by reply module 140 may include a variety of data fields that are used for addressing, including, but not limited to: “From,” “To,” “CC,” “BCC,” “Sent on behalf of” “Reply to,” or any other address data field.

In some embodiments of the invention, reply module 140 may collect the names or addresses from the address fields of the header data from each related message, and adds only those unique names or addresses to a stored list. The stored list of gathered header information may be stored in the temporary memory buffer (not otherwise illustrated). In some embodiments of the invention, the stored list may include information regarding the field from which the names or addresses originated. For example, “Joe Smith” may have been in the “From” field in one message and in the “To” field of a second message.

After the stored list of names or addresses has been compiled, reply module 140 may create a reply message that is related to the originally selected message. In some embodiments of the invention, reply module 140 may insert the names or addresses from the stored list of names or addresses into fields of the reply message corresponding to the fields from which the names or addresses originated (i.e., originating fields). In some embodiments of the invention, the corresponding field is determined by a rule set that specifies which originating fields cause names to be inserted into which address fields of the reply message with priority information should the name or address originate in more than one type of field.

In some embodiments of the invention, the user may also insert additional names or addresses into the address fields of the reply message as would be apparent.

FIG. 5 illustrates various search options that may be incorporated into user interface 200 and provided or otherwise controlled by search module 160 according to one or more embodiments of the invention. Search module 160 allows a user to search a list of messages 224 and/or related message in a variety of ways, including “Search Only for Messages that Include Search Terms” 566 or “Search for Messages that Include Search Terms and All Related Messages” 568. Depending on which search option is selected, search module 160 may access threading service 110.

To utilize search module 160 of the invention, a user selects menu item “Search” 222 f from toolbar 222 of email system 120. Selecting menu item “Search” 222 f accesses or otherwise invokes search module 160. Subsequently, search module 160 may display a query box 562 in which a user may enter one or more search terms 564. The user may then enter search terms 564 comprising of a variety of text that is to be sought in list of message 224 as would be apparent.

After the user enters search terms 564 into query box 562, the user may select from one or more search options provided by search module 160. These search options may include “Search Only for Messages that Include Search Terms” 566 or “Search for Messages that Include Search Terms and All Related Messages” 568. The user may select one of these in accordance with the action the user wishes to take. In some embodiments of the invention, if the user wishes to retrieve only those messages that include search terms 564, the user may select “Search Only for Messages that Include Search Terms” 566. In some embodiments of the invention, if the user wishes to retrieve those messages that include search terms 564 and all messages that are related thereto, the user may select “Search for Messages Containing Search Terms and All Related Messages” 568.

After the user has selected a search command, search module 160 causes the appropriate search results to be generated. If the selected search command is “Search Only for Messages that Include Search Terms” 566, search module 160 searches message set 224 for messages that include search terms 564 as would be apparent and provides those message as search results.

If the selected search command is “Search for Messages that Include Search Terms and All Related Messages” 568, search module 160 searches message set 224 for messages including search terms 564. Then, for each message that includes search terms 564, search module 160 also determines and/or retrieves messages related thereto, whether or not the related messages include search terms 564. Search module 160 searches each message of message set 224 for entered search terms 564. In some embodiments of the invention, if the search terms are found including a particular message, search module 160 determines whether the particular message belongs to a thread. If so, search module 160 requests a list of messages related to the particular message from, for example, threading service 110. This list of related messages may include the matching message and all messages in the same “thread,” or those messages determined by threading service 110 to be related to the particular message. The list of related messages may be stored in a memory buffer (not shown) of email system 120. Search module 160 may access and retrieve the list of related messages from the particular memory buffer. Search module 160 provides search results that include the message that included the search terms 564 and the list of messages related thereto.

In some embodiments of the invention, after the search results are complied, search module 160 may display the search results in various ways. Search module 160 may display the search results in order of relevance, date or any other mechanism. In some embodiments, the search results may include an indication so that the user may recognize that a particular message includes search terms 564, while another message is related to a message that includes search terms.

In some embodiments of the invention, the search results may be displayed such that only a set of related messages or thread of a message, where at least one message there includes the search terms 564. In some embodiments of the invention, the user may expand/collapse the initial message to view the entire list of related messages.

In some embodiments of the invention, the search results that are displayed may include these messages that include search terms 564. The displayed results may include an indication of whether the message is related to other messages. In some embodiments, the user may expand/collapse the message to view the list of related messages.

FIG. 6 illustrates profile module 150 according to the various embodiments of the invention. In some embodiments, profile module 150 may use threading service 110 to expand topics and names used to create a dynamic interest profile 652. Dynamic interest profile 652 may be generated and updated on the email system 120 of user terminal 102.

In some embodiments of the invention, profile module 150 automatically constructs dynamic interest profile 652 in order to sort, cluster, and otherwise call attention to messages that may be of interest to a user. Dynamic interest profile 652 may include items 654 of user interest including topics 654 a, names 654 b, documents, 654 c, document repositories 654 d, or other items of user interest.

In some embodiments of the invention, profile module 150 may monitor all outgoing messages that a user sends from email system 120. Outgoing messages and messages related thereto may be used to construct items 654 of dynamic interest profile 652, as described further below.

For each outgoing message, profile module 150 identifies whether the outgoing message related to other messages, by, for example, being related to a thread. If so, profile module 150 requests a list of messages related to the outgoing message from threading service 110. The list of related messages includes the outgoing message and all messages in the same “thread,” or all those messages determined by threading service 110 to be related to the outgoing message. The list of related messages may be stored in a memory buffer (not shown) of email system 120. Profile module 150 may access and retrieve messages from the memory buffer.

Profile module 150 scans the outgoing message and its related messages for terms to add to dynamic interest profile 652. The related messages may be incoming or outgoing messages. In some embodiments of the invention, the profile module 150 may include an algorithm for weighting the terms added to dynamic interest profile 652, such that, for example, the most relevant or frequently occurring terms appear first in dynamic interest profile 652. In some embodiments of the invention, incoming and outgoing messages may be weighted differently according to the algorithm.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Other embodiments, uses and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. The specification should be considered exemplary only, and the scope of the invention is accordingly intended to be limited by the following claims. 

1. A method for replying to messages comprising: in response to a user selecting a message from a list of messages and subsequently selecting one of a plurality of reply options: determining a name of sender of the selected message; determining a name of at least one recipient of the selected message; determining one or more messages that are related to the selected message; determining a name of at least one second recipient of the one or more related messages, said second recipient being different from both said sender and said at least one recipient; and automatically populating a reply message with the name of the sender, the name of the at least one recipient, and the name of the at least one second recipient.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising populating, by the user, the reply message with a name other than that of the sender, the at least one recipient, or the at least one second recipient.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective names comprise message addresses.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective names comprise email message addresses.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of reply options include an option to reply to the sender of the selected message.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of reply options include an option to reply to all recipients of the selected message.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of reply options include an option to reply to recipients of the selected message and messages related to the selected message.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing, by the user, an automatically populated name from the reply message.
 9. The method of claim 3, wherein automatically populating the reply message comprises automatically populating at least one address field of the reply message with a message address of the sender, a message address of the at least one recipient, and a message address of the at least one second recipient.
 10. The method of claim 4, wherein automatically populating the reply message comprises automatically populating at least one address field of the reply message with an email message address of the sender, an email message address of the at least one recipient, and an email message address of the at least one second recipient.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining an appropriate address field of the reply message for each respective email message address.
 12. A graphical user interface comprising: a list of messages including at least one message selectable by a user; a reply command that, upon selection by the user, generates a reply message to a sender of the selected message and a recipient of a message related to the selected message, wherein the recipient is neither a recipient of the selected message nor the sender of the selected message.
 13. The graphical user interface of claim 12, further comprising: means for selecting at least one of the messages from the list of messages.
 14. A system for replying to messages comprising: a graphical user interface that presents a list of messages and one or more reply options to a user, wherein the user selects a message and selects one of the one or more reply options through the graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface includes one or more views; and a reply module, responsive to the selected reply option, that automatically populates one or more address fields of a reply message with a message address of a sender of the selected message and a message address of a recipient of a message related to the selected message, wherein the recipient of the related message is not a recipient of the selected message.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the reply module further automatically populates one or more address fields of the reply message with a message address of a recipient of the selected message.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more reply options include an option to reply to the sender of the selected message.
 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more reply options include an option to reply to the sender and the recipients of the selected message.
 18. The system of claim 14, wherein the selected reply option comprises an option to reply to the sender and the recipients of all messages related to the selected message.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the selected reply option comprises an option to reply to all recipients in a thread of related messages. 